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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22993489858 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "KOJO LUCAS" <lucaskojo1963@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: western-unionofice-bj229@live.fr
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:08:05 +0200
Subject: =?WINDOWS-1256?Q?Western_Union_Money_Transfer?= =?WINDOWS-1256?Q?,we_have_your_fund_with_us.=FE?=


* Western Union(R) * Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

*Attention,*
* *
*
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in
the amount of $50.000.00 USD Fifty Thousand United States Dollars directed
in cash credited to fileKTU/9023118308, at the owner of this email address.

The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your remaining payment a
couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

They said that they choose to send it to an email address instead of a name
so that the fund can be safe and avaliable to pick up by the
beneficially,due to such development,we are unable to complete a transfer
directed at an email address,so we require some more information in order to
complete this transfer.

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:

In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors
Fund Verification Department.

As soon as this information is received, and you have complied with the
requirements of payment of the western union charges $500USD Five hundred,
payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter
directly from the Western Union Transfering Bank.

Below is the information to send the $500 today through Western Union money
transfer to make it faster and easier.

*
*SENDER'S NAME:
RECEIVER'S NAME:DANIEL CHIONYE.
CITY:COTONOU:
RECEIVING COUNTRY; BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION: IN GOD
ANSWER; WE TRUST
AMOUNT; $500.00
MTCN NUMBER.............................

Please don't forget to send the MTCN number to us immediately you send the
money and make sure that you send with this information to avoid mistake ok.
Waiting to have the MTCN..

Sincerely,

MR. LUCAS KOJO.
*
*[image: Dollars]* *[image: Western Union Logo]**Western Union(R) * *
Welcome to Western Union!
+229 93 489 858
western-unionofice-bj229@live.fr
Send Money Worldwide WESTERN UNION
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam